Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Dear Seth

Dear Seth,

It has been three weeks since you joined our family. Just the thought of how fast this precious time has flown by brings tears to my eyes. The last three weeks of my pregnancy seemed like an eternity, yet the same amount of time with you here has been a whirlwind of feedings, diaper changes, naps, and accomplishing whatever I possibly can while you are sleeping. Luckily I have been able to treasure every single moment of you sleeping in my arms. It is your absolute favorite place to be. You often cry just to be held...which I don't mind a bit.

Your birth story is one I thought I would never tell, because you, my darling son, were the only child of mine to come naturally. I figured that like every other one of my labors, yours would be induced. I was actually scheduled to be induced on Wednesday, August 7th. It was planned specifically for that date due to an insurance "glitch". We knew that if you came even an hour early, insurance wouldn't cover your or my hospital bills. We really didn't think we would have any issues making it to the 7th, seeing as how your official due date wasn't until August 14th, but alas - you had other plans. On Sunday August 4th, at about 8pm, I realized there was a chance I was in actual labor.

Contractions started coming every 12-15 minutes for about two hours. By about 10pm, the contractions were coming every 8 minutes. It was at that point I decided to (of ALL things) clean the house. I mopped the floor three times (long sticky story) cleaned all of the bathrooms and vacuumed. Looking back I still laugh about the fact that I was most concerned about having a clean house for your Aunt Callie to come to. Heaven forbid the babysitter see a mess while you're in the hospital, right?

Naturally, this was also the ONE time I told all of the kids they could camp out in the backyard with your Dad. They had been begging all summer long, and I realized that with you coming on Wednesday, it was probably the last night they could sleep outside before school started. Didn't happen. At midnight, the contractions were coming every 5 minutes, so Aunt Callie came over. Bless her heart - it wasn't until I texted her and asked her to come over that she responded with, "Yes! Oh, and I just got engaged!" Again, great timing on your part! We brought four crying kids in from the tent and headed to the hospital hoping that this was real labor. At that point I still wasn't sure.

We got to the hospital at about 1am, and got checked in. (I had your dad leave all of his stuff in the car fearing that they would tell me I wasn't really in labor and send me home). But the nurse came in to get all of my information and check me at about 1:30, and I was dilated to a 6. I was so excited that I had recognized REAL labor, and just kept saying, "I can't believe this is REALLY happening!"

After answering all of the nurse's questions, and getting everything settled, Rob and I decided that we should try to get a little bit of sleep before you were born. He got comfy on the couch, and I rested my eyes in bed. Rob and I dozed off, but ten minutes later I awoke to a very strong contraction that broke my water. I called in the nurse, and she informed me that I was fully dilated and ready to push. We called the on-call doctor, and at 3:10 am, you entered this world weighing 7 lbs 3 oz and 19 inches long. The whole thing went so fast that I was almost sad that it was already over, but I immediately fell in love with you.

After many hours of debating your name, we finally chose Seth Crosby. Seth after one of our favorite bands The Avett Brothers (our favorite brother is named Seth) and Crosby is my Grandpa's middle name - along with some really great music associations (Crosby, Stills and Nash and Bing Crosby). From the day we found out you were a boy your name was going to be Crosby Seth, but for some reason Seth Crosby just made sense when we saw you.

All hospital bills aside, I am so grateful that I was able to experience natural labor. Don't get me wrong - I eventually got an epidural - but I loved knowing that my body was actually capable of delivering a baby, and the whole experience was so amazing. You are such a beautiful and sweet baby boy, and the love that I have for you feels like it's been inside of me forever. I can't wait to see your personality and how you fit into this family, but for now I'll just enjoy the time that I can hold you close and pat your back as you curl up into a little ball on my chest.

4 comments:

Well now. That was just about the sweetest story ever told. You are amazing, Melissa. Rob is amazing. You guys should win the "Big Kahuna Prize of Parenting" because the selflessness and adoration and pure love you have for your kids is nothing short of incredible.

Once Seth is old enough to read this, one thing will be perfectly clear: He will never be able to say he was not cherished and loved like none other. So, so sweet.